within the law-第29部分

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ome；　not　if　I　know　her。　　She's　too　clever　for　that。　　Why；　if　she　knew　what　Garson　was　planning　to　do；　she'd　stop　him。〃

The　Inspector　paused　suddenly。　　For　a　long　minute　his　face　was　seamed　with　thought。　　Then；　he　smote　his　thigh　with　a　blow　strong　enough　to　kill　an　ox。　　His　face　was　radiant。

〃By　God！　I've　got　her！〃　he　cried。　　The　inspiration　for　which　he　had　longed　was　his　at　last。　　He　went　to　the　desk　where　the　telephone　was；　and　took　up　the　receiver。

〃Give　me　3100　Spring；〃　he　said。　　As　he　waited　for　the　connection　he　smiled　widely　on　the　astonished　Gilder。　〃　'Tain't　too　late；〃　he　said　joyously。　　〃I　must　have　been　losing　my　mind　not　to　have　thought　of　it　before。〃　　The　impact　of　sounds　on　his　ear　from　the　receiver　set　him　to　attention。

〃Headquarters？〃　　he　called。　　〃Inspector　Burke　speaking。　Who's　in　my　office？　　I　want　him　quick。〃　　He　smiled　as　he　listened；　and　he　spoke　again　to　Gilder。　〃It's　Smith；　the　best　man　I　have。　　That's　luck；　if　you　ask　me。〃　　Then　again　he　spoke　into　the　mouthpiece　of　the　telephone。

〃Oh；　Ed；　send　some　one　up　to　that　Turner　woman。　You　have　the　address。　　Just　see　that　she　is　tipped　off；　that　Joe　Garson　and　some　pals　are　going　to　break　into　Edward　Gilder's　house　to…night。　　Get　some　stool…pigeon　to　hand　her　the　information。　　You'd　better　get　to　work　damned　quick。　　Understand？〃　

The　Inspector　pulled　out　that　watch　of　which　Aggie　Lynch　had　spoken　so　avariciously；　and　glanced　at　it；　then　went　on　speaking：

〃It's　ten…thirty　now。　　She　went　to　the　Lyric　Theater　with　some　woman。　　Get　her　as　she　leaves；　or　find　her　back　at　her　own　place　later。　　You'll　have　to　hustle；　anyhow。　　That's　all！〃　

The　Inspector　hung　up　the　receiver　and　faced　his　host　with　a　contented　smile。

〃What　good　will　all　that　do？〃　　Gilder　demanded；　impatiently。

Burke　explained　with　a　satisfaction　natural　to　one　who　had　devised　something　ingenious　and　adequate。　This　inspiration　filled　him　with　delight。　　At　last　he　was　sure　of　catching　Mary　Turner　herself　in　his　toils。

〃She'll　come　to　stop　'em；〃　he　said。　　〃When　we　get　the　rest　of　the　gang；　we'll　grab　her；　too。　　Why；　I　almost　forgot　her；　thinking　about　Garson。　　Mr。　Gilder；　you　would　hardly　believe　it；　but　there's　scarcely　been　a　real　bit　of　forgery　worth　while　done　in　this　country　for　the　last　twenty　years；　that　Garson　hasn't　been　mixed　up　in。　　We've　never　once　got　him　right　in　all　that　time。〃　　The　Inspector　paused　to　chuckle。　　〃Crooks　are　funny；〃　he　explained　with　obvious　contentment。　　〃Clever　as　he　is；　Garson　let　Griggs　talk　him　into　a　second…story　job；　and　now　we'll　get　him　with　the　goods。。。。　Just　call　your　man　for　a　minute；　will　you；　Mr。　Gilder？〃　

Gilder　pressed　the　electric　button　on　his　desk。　　At　the　same　moment；　through　the　octagonal　window　came　a　blinding　flash　of　light　that　rested　for　seconds；　then　vanished。　　Burke；　by　no　means　a　nervous　man；　nevertheless　was　startled　by　the　mysterious　radiance。

〃What's　that？〃　　he　demanded；　sharply。

〃It's　the　flashlight　from　the　Metropolitan　Tower；〃　Gilder　explained　with　a　smile　over　the　policeman's　perturbation。　　〃It　swings　around　this　way　about　every　fifteen　minutes。　　The　servant　forgot　to　draw　the　curtains。〃　　As　he　spoke；　he　went　to　the　window；　and　pulled　the　heavy　draperies　close。　　〃It　won't　bother　us　again。〃

The　entrance　of　the　butler　brought　the　Inspector's　thoughts　back　to　the　matter　in　hand。

〃My　man；〃　he　said；　authoritatively；　〃I　want　you　to　go　up　to　the　roof　and　open　the　scuttle。　　You'll　find　some　men　waiting　up　there。　　Bring　'em　down　here。〃

The　servant's　usually　impassive　face　showed　astonishment；　not　unmixed　with　dismay；　and　he　looked　doubtfully　toward　his　master；　who　nodded　reassuringly。

〃Oh；　they　won't　hurt　you；〃　the　Inspector　declared；　as　he　noticed　the　man's　hesitation。　　〃They're　police　officers。　You　get　'em　down　here；　and　then　you　go　to　bed　and　stay　there　till　morning。　　Understand？〃　

Again；　the　butler　looked　at　his　master　for　guidance　in　this　very　peculiar　affair；　as　he　deemed　it。　　Receiving　another　nod；　he　said：

〃Very　well；　sir。〃　　He　regarded　the　Inspector　with　a　certain　helpless　indignation　over　this　disturbance　of　the　natural　order；　and　left　the　room。

Gilder　himself　was　puzzled　over　the　situation；　which　was　by　no　means　clear　to　him。

〃How　do　you　know　they're　going　to　break　into　the　house　to…night？〃　　he　demanded　of　Burke；　〃or　do　you　only　think　they're　going　to　break　into　the　house？〃　

〃I　know　they　are。〃　　The　Inspector's　harsh　voice　brought　out　the　words　boastfully。　　〃I　fixed　it。〃

〃You　did！〃　There　was　wonder　in　the　magnate's　exclamation。

〃Sure；〃　Burke　declared　complacently；　〃did　it　through　a　stool…pigeon。〃

〃Oh；　an　informer；〃　Gilder　interrupted；　a　little　doubtfully。

〃Yes；〃　Burke　agreed。　　〃Stool…pigeon　is　the　police　name　for　him。　　Really；　he's　the　vilest　thing　that　crawls。〃

〃But；　if　you　think　that；〃　Gilder　expostulated；　〃why　do　you　have　anything　to　do　with　that　sort　of　person？〃　

〃Because　it's　good　business；〃　the　Inspector　replied。　〃We　know　he's　a　spy　and　a　traitor；　and　that　every　time　he　comes　near　us　we　ought　to　use　a　disinfectant。　　But　we　deal　with　him　just　the　samebecause　we　have　to。　Now；　the　stool…pigeon　in　this　trick　is　a　swell　English　crook。　　He　went　to　Garson　yesterday　with　a　scheme　to　rob　your　house。　　He　tried　out　Mary　Turner；　too；　but　she　wouldn't　stand　for　itsaid　it　would　break　the　law；　which　is　contrary　to　her　principles。　　She　told　Garson　to　leave　it　alone。　　But　he　met　Griggs　afterward　without　her　knowing　anything　about　it；　and　then　he　agreed　to　pull　it　off。　　Griggs　got　word　to　me　that　it's　coming　off　to…night。　　And　so；　you　see；　Mr。　Gilder；　that's　how　I　know。　　Do　you　get　me？〃　

〃I　see；〃　Gilder　admitted　without　any　enthusiasm。　　As　a　matter　of　fact；　he　felt　somewhat　offended　that　his　house　should　be　thus　summarily　seized　as　a　trap　for　criminals。

〃But　why　do　you　have　your　men　come　down　over　the　roof？〃　　he　inquired　curiously。

〃It　wasn't　safe　to　bring　them　in　the　front　way；〃　was　the　Inspector's　prompt　reply。　　〃It's　a　cinch　the　house　is　being　watched。　　I　wish　you　would　let　me　have　your　latch…key。　　I　want　to　come　back；　and　make　this　collar　myself。〃

The　owner　of　the　house　obediently　took　the　desired　key　from　his　ring　and　gave　it　to　the　Inspector　with　a　shrug　of　resignation。

〃But；　why　not　stay；　now　that　you　are　here？〃　　he　asked。

〃Huh！〃　Burke　retorted。　　〃Suppose　some　of　them　saw　me　come　in？　　There　wouldn't　be　anything　doing　until　after　they　see　me　go　out　again。〃

The　hall　door　opened　and　the　butler　reentered　the　room。　　Behind　him　came　Cassidy　and　two　other　detectives　in　plain　clothes。　　At　a　word　from　his　master；　the　disturbed　Thomas　withdrew　with　the　intention　of　obeying　the　Inspector's　directions　that　he　should　retire　to　bed　and　stay　there；　carefully　avoiding　whatever　possibilities　of　peril　there　might　be　in　the　situation　so　foreign　to　his　ideals　of　propriety。

〃Now；〃　Burke　went　on　briskly；　as　the　door　closed　behind　the　servant；　〃where　could　these　men　stay　out　of　sight　until　they're　needed？〃　

There　followed　a　little　discussion　which　ended　in　the　selection　of　a　store…room　at　the　end　of　the　passage　on　the　ground　floor；　on　which　one　of　the　library　doors　opened。

〃You　see；〃　Burke　explained　to　Gilder；　when　this　matter　had　been　settled　to　his　satisfaction；　and　while　Cassidy　and　the　other　detectives　were　out　of　the　library　on　a　tour　of　inspection；　〃you　must　have　things　right；　when　it　comes　to　catching　crooks　on　a　frame…up　like　this。　　I　had　these　men　come　to　Number　Twenty…six　on　the　other　street；　then　round　the　block　on　the　roofs。〃

Gilder　nodded　appreciation　which　was　not　actually　sincere。　　It　seemed　to　him　that　such　elaborate　manoeuvering　was；　in　truth；　rather　absurd。

〃And　now；　Mr。　Gilder；〃　the　Inspector　said　energetically；　〃I'm　going　to　give　you　the　same　tip　I　gave　your　man。　　Go　to　bed；　and　stay　there。〃

〃But　the　boy；〃　Gilder　protested。　　〃What　about　him？　　He's　the　one　thing　of　importance　to　me。〃

〃If　he　says　anything　more　about　going　to　Chicagojust　you　let　him　go；　that's　all！　It's　the　best　place　for　him　for　the　next　few　days。　　I'll　get　in　touch　with　you　in　the　morning　and　let　you　know　then　how　things　are　coming　out。〃

Gilder　sighed　resignedly。　　His　heavy　face　was　lined　with　anxiety。　　There　was　a　hesitation　in　his　manner　of　speech　that　was　wholly　unlike　its　usual　quick　decisiveness。

〃I　don't　like　this　sort　of　thing；〃　he　said；　doubtfully。　〃I　let　you　go　ahead　because　I　can't　suggest　any　alternative；　but　I　don't　like　it；　not　at　all。　　It　seems　to　me　that　other　methods　might　be　employed　with　excellent　results　without　the　element　of　treachery　which　seems　to　involve　me　as　well　as　you　in　our　efforts　to　overcome　this　woman。〃

Burke；　however；　had　no　qualms　as　to　such　plotting。

〃You　must　have　crooked　ways　to　catch　crooks；　believe　me；〃　he　said　cheerfully。　　〃It's　the　easiest　and　quickest　way　out　of　the　trouble　for　us；　and　the　easiest　and　quickest　way　into　trouble　for　them。〃

The　return　of　the　detectives　caused　him　to　break　off；　and　he　gave　his　attention　to　the　final　arrangements　of　his　men。

〃You're　in　charge　here；〃　he　said　to　Cassidy；　〃and　I　hold　you　responsible。　　Now；　listen　to　this；　and　get　it。〃　　His　coarse　voice　came　with　a　grating　note　of　command。　〃I'm　coming　back　to　get　this　bunch　myself；　and　I'll　call　you　when　you're　wanted。　　You'll　wait　in　the　store…room　out　there　and　don't　make　a　move　till　you　hear　from　me；　unless　by　any　chance　things　go　wrong　and　you　get　a　call　from　Griggs。　　You　know　who　he　is。　　He's　got　a　whistle；　and　he'll　use　it　if　necessary。。。。　Got　that　straight？〃　　And；　when　Cassidy　had　declared　an　entire　understanding　of　the　directions　given；　he　concluded　concisely。　〃On　your　way；　then！〃　

As　the　men　left　the　room；　he　turned　again　to　Gilder。

〃Just　one　thing　more；〃　he　said。　　〃I'll　have　to　have　your　help　a　little　longer。　　After　I've　gone；　I　want　you　to　stay　up　for　a　half…hour　anyhow；　with　the　lights　burning。　Do　you　see？　　I　want　to　be　sure　to　give　the　Turner　woman　time　to　get　here　while　that　gang　is　at　work。　Your　keeping　on　the　lights　will　hold　them　back；　for　they　won't　come　in　till　the　house　is　dark；　so；　in　half　an　hour　you　can　get　off　the　job；　switch　off　the　lights　and　go　to　bed　and　stay　therejust　as　I　told　you　before。〃　　Then　Inspector　Burke；　having　in　mind　the　great　distress　of　the　man　over　the　unfortunate

entanglement　of　his